Pathognomonic

Dictionary of Sexology Project: Main Index

Etymology: From the Greek pathognomonikos

patho-, as in pathology and -gnomonikos, able to judge, from gnomon, interpreter.

Therefore, pathognomonic means something that allows you to judge with certainty a certain disease (pathology).

Pa*thog`no*mon"ic (?), a. [Gr. skilled in judging of diseases; a disease + skilled: cf. F. pathognomonique. See Gnomic.] Med.

Specially or decisively characteristic of a disease; indicating with certainty a disease; as, a pathognomonic symptom.

The true pathognomonic sign of love jealousy. Arbuthnot.

© Webster 1913.